Brooklyn Winter Christmas Ale (2005 and earlier)

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

Pretty deep brown color, but no head at all or lacing...like none at all. Egads, this beer does NOT smell good...like smelly rotten fruit. Ick...it tastes like rotten fruit, too. Sweet, but putrid. Who voluntarily buys this after having it previously?? Avoid like the plague!

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

2006: Pours dark brown with a low head that dissipates quickly. Active carbonation. Mouthfeel has a bit of hop and flavor bite, but is watery all the same. Flavor is odd, kind of average but noticable clove. All in all it's just OK.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Generously sweet malty scent some light spices are there. Nice color but the off white head soon left and couldn't be brought back. Medium fullness and easily drinkable, nice clean finish. Good tasting ale, sweet malts. A touch of clove perhaps with some complimenting spices although this aspect is greatly downplayed in the overall taste.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

Well, I picked up a mixer of this brewer's beers and this was in it and I wanted to give it a shot. The aroma is nice but a bit thin with maybe some roasted malts and maybe some light chocolate as well as some spices coming through with maybe some very faint toffee or licorice overtones. The appearance is lighter than I expected but still is not bad and is a deep, rich amber to violet in color when held to the light with a minimal head on top that is surprising and has low carbonation and the head diminishes to a light-tan lacing that coats the glass decently well. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and not too bad but is lacking and is a bit thin for this style but does have some average malty complexity as well as some nice bitter balance with a palate that is nice but light and not too heavy and could coat better. The flavor is nice with some roasted malts coming through with maybe even some faint grainy characteristics with an aftertaste that is of some chocolate and roasted malt with maybe some nice bitter with some hoppiness that rises above the maltiness with a finish that is pretty nice but a bit thin and not that heavy and could have some better complexity but it is still wet-like and not that bad. Overall, this is a nice brew but a bit light and a bit too thin for the style as well as the season but, nonetheless, this would be a lighter cousin of other Winter spiced brews and would be nice for a session brew and it does have some nice drinkability attributes; not a bad brew here but a bit light for my tastes...I would recommend it.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

pours mahogany with a short white head. Aroma is sweet with fruity grape and kinda chalky. Medium bodied and a light carbonation which holds up smoothly through the finish. Flavor is mellow with cooked berries and i think it could be a little sweeter even. Also some woody spice like clove and pumpernickel bread. A touch of dryness. The abv saves this beer and gives it needed body and resilience. Aftertaste is ok

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 6

Pours a clear, dark mahogany. The aroma is the traditional winter beer spice over a soft toffee and wood malt aroma. The flavor is a bit sweet, malty, low bitterness, although there is a slight tartness. There’s a bit of copper in the finish.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Bottled. Dark amber/ruby colour, small beige head. Spice, quite sweet aroma with some fruitish hints. Flavour is of clowe, sweet alcohol, spices and some hayish dryness. Aftertaste mainly spicy. Alco some chocolateish notes can be found in flavour and aftertaste.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

I wanted to like this seasonal but must say I was disappointed. Aroma smells like chemicals (strange). Dark appearance with a head that vanishes quickly. Light bodied and not very carbonated. Unusual taste. Not bitter or sweet. Kind of bland and uninteresting. Is available as part of their winter sampler case only which is expensive at $38 a case! I guess for what I paid for the sampler that I was expecting something with a little more taste and a little more body.